Record Store Day 2026 is gearing up to hit Australia next Saturday, April 18th, and it’s shaping up less like a shopping day and more like a full blown takeover.
Indie record stores across the country are stacking their floors with live sets, exclusive vinyl drops and the kind of community energy you don’t get from a streaming algorithm (per The Music Network)
At its core, Record Store Day still does what it’s always done, it puts the spotlight back on the local shops that keep scenes alive, the ones where staff actually know what you’re into, and the walls are lined with stories, not just stock.
Hermitude lead a nationwide charge
Hermitude are going all in this year. The duo are attempting a marathon run across eight record stores in 24 hours to celebrate their new LP EIGHT, moving from the Blue Mountains right through to Bondi.
Some stops will see them performing live, while others will host limited lathe-cut vinyl raffles, it’s chaotic, ambitious and very on brand.
Bondi Records will also host Egoism in support of their RSD release Trust Me, while TITLE will get a separate Egoism set. Meanwhile, Media Puzzle are set to bring their off kilter energy to Badlands Vinyl following their release New Racehorse.
Victoria stacks the lineup
Melbourne and beyond aren’t holding back either. Queenie will take over Desert Highways and Rocksteady Records, alongside sounds tied to Nat Pavlovic and Merpire.
Soundmerch is running an all day lineup featuring Public Figures, Owelu Dreamhouse, The Antics and The Gnomes, while Bar Open will host Sensible J and Immy Owusu.
Northside Records is locked in with Kee’ahn, Mokomokai and Steppers, plus a signing from Baker Boy, down in Geelong, Popcultcha Records will feature The Vasco Era, Saint Ergo and Winksy.
More than just vinyl
Across the rest of the country, Tasmania’s Suffragette Records will host Naomi Keyte, Adelaide’s My Dead Grandpa is spinning DJs all day, and Queensland’s Echo and Bounce will feature Das Druid and Bradley Zero.
Sure, there are exclusive releases from names like Empire of the Sun and Spacey Jane floating around, but the real draw is still the same, it’s the feeling of walking into a store and actually being part of something.
More details on Record Store Day can be found here.
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